Junction-box.



W. A. CHARTERS & E. G. BARDWELL. JUNCTION BOX. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.21. 1906.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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7 1 ,the recesses hQldS-i-S81d coupling UNITED STATES FATE mam,

WlLLIAM A. CHARTERS AND ERNEST G. BABIDWEIJJ, OF BUEEALD, NEW YORK.

mention-Box.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application 'flled September 21, 1906. Serialfio. 835,581.

employed'in connection with conduits for- 10 electrical wiring, and particularly to that type designed to not only serve as a connection for the extremities of the conduit, but

also as a support for lamp brackets and a other electrical fittings.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide improved'means for connecting Ehe conduits and the fitting-support to the ox. I

* In the accompanying drawing, in which 0 similar characters designate like parts throughout the several views; Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a full vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and Fig.4: is a detail in elevation showing the means for closing the conduit openings.

The box 10, which may be of any convenient form, is shown as provided with a cover 11, in which is a central opening 12. Both box'and cover may be stamped from sheet metal. In the walls of the box are openings l3, arranged in anydesired manner, there be1ng,1n the present instance, two in each side, and four in the bottom, the latter being symmetrically arranged about the center. Each of these openings is situated in a recessed portion 1 1, o ening within the box,

40' and beinghconvenient y formed by pressing a ortion of the wall outwardly. As here illus rated, these recesses are square, but may be of any angular form. One or more of the openings 13may receive coupling members 4 5 15, which are externally threaded, and which have enlarged end portions, or heads 16, conforming to the recesses 14, and being of such.

thickness that when the coupling is in place 'inthe opening, the head will lie within the .recess with its inner facesubstantially flush with the wall or; the box; [The enga ement between the coupling headf'and the e ges of against rotation while conduitsl'i are ein screwed upon their outlrgfendszj When t ese coning action to force the elements apart.

against the outer wall of the recessed por-,

tion, and thus lock the coupling in place.

This arrangement avoids the necessity for insertinga wrench or like tool into the junction-box to make up the connection between the coupling and the conduit. The openings 13, to which conduits are not applied, are preferably closed by sheet metal covers .18 fitting therecesses and having integral projections 19, which are adapted to be bent over the edges of the openings outside the box to retain the covers in place. These covers are also flush with the inner wall of the box. This results in the presentation of a substantially continuous surface without rough edges, and in this mariner the danger of abrading the insulation of the conductors is avoided. a 1

In, the bottom of the box, and preferably at o'r near its center, is an elongated opening 20, associated with which is a retaining means, here shown as consisting of a bridge 21, extending from one end ofthe openin to the other, and being preferably forme by pressing in a portion of the material of the box, there being a space left between this bridge and the bottom'wall. In the bridge is an opening 22, to receive a supporting member, which is shown as consisting of a threaded stud 23, provided with an elongated head at, which will enter the opening 20, but which will not pass through the bridge opening 22 and which, when turned at right angles to the opening 20, will rest upon the bottom of the box. The thickness of this head' is preferably somewhat greater than the distance between the bridge and the bottom wall, so that when it is turned across the opening, this being conveniently accomplished by engaging flattened surfaces upon the stud at 25 by a wrench, said head will spring the .wall and bridge apart, and be clamped in place by their pressure, thus preventing accidental rotation. To permit the head to readily enter the space between the bridge and the bottom wall, its extremities may be beveled at 26, thus exerting a wedg- Near the ends of the bridge and at opposite sides thereof, are stop projections 27, which may be formed by pressing up integral shoulders from. the sheet metal. By these shoulders the rotary movement of the stud is limited and the attainingbof the correct position oi the head across t e opening 20 assured.

upon the stud, it passing through the open the bridge and box.

'2. The combination with a junction-box provided with an elongated opening, of a perforated bridge lying across the opening, a supporting member extending through the bridge, and having an elongated head situated between the bridge and box, and means for permitting engagement with the supporting member whereby the head may be turned across the box opening.

3. The combination with a junction-box provided with an elongated opening, of retaining means situated within the box adjacent to the opening, anda supporting member having an elongated head adapted to be introduced into the space between the box and retaining means, said space being normally less than the thickness of the head.

4. The combination with a junction-box provided with an elongated opening, of re taining means situated within the box adjacent to the opening, and a supporting member having an elongated head beveled at its extremities and adapted to be introduced into the space between the box and retain ing means, said space being normally less than the thickness of the head.

5. The combination with a junction-box provided with an elongated opening, of retaining means situated within the box adjacent to the opening, and a supporting member having an elongated head adapted to be introduced into the space between the box and retaining means, said space being normally less than the thickness of the head and stop members carried by the box at each side of the opening.

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM A. CHARTERS. ERNEST G. BARDWELL. Witnesses to both signatures:

E. A. GRAY, ARCH B. RossELLI. 

